Delve re-signs for season 2013

[kronic]

Bloke needs his own thread, get around him.

RaboDirect Rebels Vice Captain Gareth Delve has re-signed with the club and will remain in Melbourne for the 2013 FxPro Super Rugby season.

Delve joined the Rebels ahead of its inaugural season on a two year contract, becoming the first Welshman to play Super Rugby.

Weighing in at 114kg, Delve now has 28 Super Rugby caps and four tries to his name.

The number eight quickly impressed in the southern hemisphere, missing just one game in a debut season where he became the first foreigner to Captain an Australian Super Rugby side (Round 9, 2011 V Highlanders).

Born in 1982 in Cardiff, he accepted a scholarship to Colston's Collegiate School in Bristol before signing a professional contract with Bath in 2001.

He made his international debut for Wales in 2006, before moving to Gloucester in 2007.

Delve was named joint captain at Kingsholm, leading the side out onto Twickenham for the Final of the 2009 Anglo-Welsh Cup.

He joined the Rebels in 2010 and after two years in the Victorian capital, and was recently called into the Welsh touring side for its series against the Wallabies.

And despite the critics who initially questioned his move to Super Rugby, Delve says he never doubted his decision.

“I am thrilled to sign on for another year," said Delve.

"I believe this club is moving in the right direction and now I can continue to be a part of that. There was always an element of risk associated with the move, but I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Melbourne.

"From a rugby perspective, playing against the world’s best week in and week out has been great for the development of my game. It was always going to be a massive challenge, but I am very happy I came to Australia to play in this competition.

“On a personal note, I am thrilled to be staying in Melbourne, I have become very attached to this city over the past two years and it certainly feels like home now.

"I also want to mention my teammates, I love playing alongside the lads and look forward to the opportunity to push for a finals berth with them in 2013."

RaboDirect Rebels CEO Steven Boland said the news would be welcomed throughout the Victorian rugby community.

“This is a huge coup for the RaboDirect Rebels," said Boland.

"Over the past two years Gareth has shown what a fantastic player and wonderful ambassador he is for our club.

"His leadership has also been outstanding and given the upcoming retirement of our Captain Stirling Mortlock, Gareth will once again be an important part of our leadership group next year.

“Put simply, we are thrilled that ‘Delvey’ is staying with the Rebels."

 

[MrTimms]

Great news, he is a top bloke.

Glad he is staying.

 

[tigerland12]

Great for Melbourne Rugby

 

[gel]

Excellent news for the rebels. A great player and is a great ambassador for the game.

 

[FiveStarStu]

I've known this was on for about a month, but it's still great to finally hear it confirmed.

Most significant announcement the club has made.

 

[2bluesfan]

Good news for the Rebels, his departure would have been a major loss for them.

 

[Bardon]

Great news for the Rebels and good decision by Gareth.

 

[Groucho]

That's fantastic! A wonderful player and a great ambassador.

 

[Athilnaur]

Superb news. Like all Rebels fans I have been waiting with baited breath for the news.

Higgers and Delve is a mouthwatering back row. I do wonder about Luke Jones, a player I admire immensely. His energy and ability on the field is something to see.

Rebels are on the up for 2013, can't wait to see Gareth on the charge!

 

[waratahjesus]

Great stuff fr Melbourne, they pretty much have a team together now that should deliver more than promise.

 

[Groucho]

Superb news. Like all Rebels fans I have been waiting with baited breath for the news.

Higgers and Delve is a mouthwatering back line. I do wonder about Luke Jones, a player I admire immensely. His energy and ability on the field is something to see.

Rebels are on the up for 2013, can't wait to see Gareth on the charge!

Delve, Higgers, Jones, Pyle and Neville is potentially as good as anything in SupeRugby.

 

[Athilnaur]

I agree Groucho, but no fetcher?

ps that should be back row... bloody hopeless some days bash away sentence half way behind brain!

 

[James Buchanan]

I agree Gnostic, but no fetcher?

ps that should be back row. bloody hopeless some days bash away sentence half way behind brain!

I suspect I am not the only person who is confused, I think you mean Groucho.

I made a similar comment regarding this in the Rebs 2013 thread. That is potentially the best 4-8, if you are putting the best players on the park but the balance of the backrow may not be as good. However, Hill has demonstrated that he does not always adhere to a specialist fetcher 7 approach throughout this year. I suspect we could see Higgers being played at 7 perhaps.

 

[Braveheart81]

He was good on The Rugby Club last week. He said he was talking to the other Welsh players about how good it is playing Super 15 rugby.

I think his biggest selling point was reminding them that it was currently Winter.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

if saffy is playing i suspect we'd see saffy at 7, higgers at 6, delve at 8 and jones and davidson/chamberlain on the bench to cover the back row and second row.
starting to look very good
cue the "we should be signing props" comments.

 

[James Buchanan]

if saffy is playing i suspect we'd see saffy at 7, higgers at 6, delve at 8 and jones and davidson/chamberlain on the bench to cover the back row and second row.

Possibly, or he could move back into the second row. Although Neville has staked his claim fairly strongly in that area.

I'm not sure Saffy at 7 gives us anything more than Jones and Higgers on the flanks though.

cue the "we should be signing props" comments.

Well, we should. 1-3 is the most important part of any team

Hookers in particular is the wagon I am pushing.

 

[jermano]

Great news, With Stirlo retiring this will keep the Rebels balanced. But THIS GUY IS AWESOME!! Best news Rebels fans could get.

 

[Proud Pig]

This is fantastic news. Now go and get a monster prop who can dominate the scrum and I may well need a little lie down.

 

[Athilnaur]

Thanks James, yes I wonder if dropping fetcher is an option, but thats a discussion for the Rebs 13 thread.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

don't forget saffy's sublime defence. neville has staken a pretty big claim to the second row alongside pyle.
saffy at 7 for my money, if he's available.

a bench that has Jones and Davidson/Chamberlain is pretty solid and we are in a nice position to be well covered when injuries inevitably strike.

i'd say byrnes is a goner and al campbell can't be too far behind.